Braces, method and process of use thereof for the repair of a storage rack

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a new method, system, and process for the repair and management of repair of a rack system. More specifically the present disclosure relates to using braces of standard sizes, pre-Certified or not, as part of a new method, and process for the onsite repair of slightly damaged elements of wholesale or storage rack systems and associated process of qualification and certification thereof. Shaped repair braces, designed to be mechanically superior to damaged pieces they replace, allow for the off-site pre-certification, off-site selection, and installation of these braces with a possibility of automatic or semi-automatic recertification of the repaired rack system when the brace is added. The process also allows for the use of one or a set of pre-certified braces and under a controlled process of determination of which brace can be used (using a software or not) and resulting in pre-certification of the system once the brace is successfully put in place.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A repair brace for a damaged element in a pallet rack system (PRS), the repair brace comprising:
 an axial portion having a first end and a second end in opposition therefrom for structural replacement of a damaged piece of an PRS along an axis, wherein the axial portion has a higher mechanical resistance than the damaged element; 
 a second portion mechanically connected to either the first end or the second end at a perpendicular orientation when compared to the axis forming an L-shaped component; 
 at least one adjustable connector for connecting the L-shaped component to a portion of the PRS for securing the L-shaped component in replacement of the damaged piece; and 
 at least one reinforcement connected to the L-shaped component to further reinforce the resistance of the L-shaped component, wherein the at least one reinforcement is an anchor plate bolted on the ground. 
 
     
     
       2. The repair brace of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one adjustable connector is a sliding piece with bolt connectors. 
     
     
       3. The repair brace of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one reinforcement forms a closed rectangular shaped cross-section. 
     
     
       4. The repair brace of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one reinforcement further includes a second sliding piece with bolt connectors. 
     
     
       5. The repair brace of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one adjustable connector comprises closed square sliding pieces. 
     
     
       6. The repair brace  claim 1 , wherein the higher mechanical resistance is obtained either by using a stronger material in the axial portion, using a thicker walled material in the axial portion, using a reinforced profile element, or including additional local mechanical reinforcements. 
     
     
       7. The repair brace of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one adjustable connector comprises an adjustable strut and a connector bracket, the adjustable strut configured to slide inside the second portion and move in a direction generally perpendicular to the axial portion to adjust a depth of the repair brace. 
     
     
       8. The repair brace of  claim 7 , wherein the connector bracket is connected to an end of the adjustable strut opposite to the axial portion, the connector bracket including at least one elongated opening configured to connect the at least one adjustable connector to a portion of the PRS. 
     
     
       9. The repair brace of  claim 7 , wherein the connector bracket is configured to connect to a vertical member of the PRS that does not need repair. 
     
     
       10. The repair brace of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one adjustable connector comprises a plurality of openings configured to releasably secure the at least one adjustable connector in a desired position relative to the second portion. 
     
     
       11. The repair brace of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one adjustable connector comprises an adjustable strut and a connector brace, the adjustable strut comprising a plurality of openings configured to releasably secure the adjustable strut in a desired position relative to the second portion and to releasably secure the connector brace to the adjustable strut. 
     
     
       12. The repair brace of  claim 1 , wherein the damaged piece comprises a sloped support of the PRS. 
     
     
       13. A repair brace for use in repairing a damaged pallet rack system (PRS), the repair brace comprising:
 a first axial portion comprising a vertical support member and a plate, wherein the plate is configured to secure to a damaged element of the PRS to align the first axial portion with the damaged element of the PRS; 
 a second axial portion spaced apart from the first axial portion; 
 a first piece oriented generally horizontally and connected between the first axial portion and the second axial portion; 
 a second piece oriented generally horizontally and vertically spaced apart from the first piece, the second piece connected between the first axial portion and the second axial portion; 
 a first connector slidably positioned inside the first piece; and 
 a second connector slidably positioned inside the second piece; 
 wherein an overall depth of the repair brace can be adjusted to a desired size by moving the first connector and the second connector relative to the first piece, respectively. 
 
     
     
       14. The repair brace of  claim 13 , further comprising an anchor plate connected to an end of the first axial portion opposite to the plate, the anchor plate configured to secure the repair to a ground surface. 
     
     
       15. The repair brace of  claim 13 , wherein the plate has a C-shaped cross section configured to be positioned around the damaged element of the PRS. 
     
     
       16. The repair brace of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first connector and the second connector comprises an adjustable strut and a connector bracket, the adjustable strut configured to move in a direction generally perpendicular to the first axial portion to adjust the depth of the repair brace. 
     
     
       17. The repair brace of  claim 16 , wherein the connector bracket is connected to an end of the adjustable strut opposite to the first axial portion, the connector bracket including at least one elongated opening configured to connect the connector bracket to a vertical member of the PRS. 
     
     
       18. The repair brace of  claim 16 , wherein the connector bracket is configured to connect to a vertical member of the PRS that does not need repair. 
     
     
       19. The repair brace of  claim 13 , wherein the first connector comprises a plurality of openings configured to releasably secure the first connector in a desired position relative to the first piece. 
     
     
       20. The repair brace of  claim 13 , wherein the first connector comprises an adjustable strut and a connector brace, the adjustable strut comprising a plurality of openings configured to releasably secure the adjustable strut in a desired position relative to the first piece and to releasably secure the connector brace to the adjustable strut.